Traverse City Manager Jered Ottenwess was charged Thursday with two counts of domestic violence and two counts of attempting to assault a police officer by the Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

The charges come on the heels of an investigation by the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office into a disorderly conduct complaint filed against Ottenwess on February 16. A 911 call placed by Ottenwess’ mother, Roberta Strnad, indicated the city manager was intoxicated, had been drinking for several days and was exhibiting aggressive behavior. Strnad told the dispatcher Ottenwess was “ripping up” his Fifth Street home and had tried to strike her.

A police report of the incident indicates Ottenwess threatened and verbally abused officers who arrived to investigate the scene, as well as emergency personnel helping to escort Ottenwess to Munson Medical Center. The city manager had to be restrained at the hospital and had a blood alcohol content nearly five times the legal limit.

After reviewing the Sheriff’s Office findings, Prosecuting Attorney Robert Cooney authorized charges against Ottenwess including two separate counts of domestic violence – a misdemeanor that carries up to 93 days of jail time – and two separate counts of resisting arrest and attempting to assault a police officer, a misdemeanor that carries up to a year of jail time. Ottenwess is accused of assaulting his mother and his wife, Kristina Ottenwess, and attempting to assault Traverse City Police Department officers Mark Witczak and Keith Gillis.

Ottenwess has been absent from his position since the February 16 incident. He is now in treatment at a Grand Rapids facility and sent an email to city staff last weekend indicating he had a “medical emergency” and would be gone for a period of “several weeks.” He did not disclose the nature of his emergency or reference police involvement, nor did he communicate directly with city commissioners on his status. Commissioners were informed for the first time as to the cause behind Ottenwess’ absence in a confidential memo sent by City Attorney Lauren Trible-Laucht on February 23, a week after the incident occurred.

Commissioners are expected to review Ottenwess’ situation at their Monday night meeting. “At this point, the evidence would strongly suggest we need to at least explore the idea of a replacement for city manager,” Mayor Michael Estes tells The Ticker. “These are charges, not convictions, and there’s a difference between the two – but the charges are too severe to not deal with. If the charges hold up or there is a guilty plea, I think we’d have to immediately terminate the contract or ask for a resignation. This seriously changes the conversation. The whole situation is very unfortunate.”

Estes says the commission may go into closed session for part of Monday’s discussion, particularly if commissioners need to seek the advice of city legal counsel and/or discuss Ottenwess’ contract. However, he’d like to see as much of as the conversation take place in open session as possible.

“I’ve always advocated for doing city business in public,” says Estes. “We may also need to look at appointing an acting city manager…and that discussion would be public.” Assistant City Manager Penny Hill is the most likely candidate for the position – as is recommended by city administrative code – but concerns from some commissioners over Hill’s lack of communication during Ottenwess’ absence could mean considering other candidates, Estes says.